Stealing the Spotlight

In this installment of Buy, Watch, Wait we will be looking at two films, which at first glance couldn't possibly have anything in common whatsoever. This is where you would be mistaken. One thing both of these films share is a supporting cast member who has eclipsed all others in the ensemble and claimed the title of "Stealer of the Spotlight". While I am fully aware that "stealer" may not be a word, I stand by the title and hope you will read on to learn not only who these thieves are, but why I believe they earn the crown.

Overview

I wont bore you with an extensive overview of the plot. If you haven't seen this movie, or the several imaginings that have come before it, odds are you had this book forced down your throat at some point during your schooling years. The basic plot is Boy #1 loves Girl #1, Girl #1 loves Boy #1 but is married to Boy #2, Boy #2 is a douche and is having an affair with Girl #2 but refuses to let Girl #1 leave with Boy #1 and craziness ensues. Oh, and of course the whole thing is narrated by Boy #3. See, simple.

The movie was brilliantly cast from top to bottom. DiCaprio is a perfect Jay Gatsby, and this is one of those rare films that Maguire is perfectly suited for, as Nick Carraway. Elizabeth Debicki and Isla Fisher also bring great performances to this film. Carey Mulligan to me was a touch on the annoying side, but I guess they can't all be perfect. Every movie needs a "rainy day" to help us appreciate the "sunny days". There is one however who stands out above the rest, but we'll get to that in a moment.

Now, we all know that in a Baz Luhrmann film there is always one recurring character, and this was quite possibly his best performance yet. That character is Music. The music, the score, the beautiful mix of contemporary musicians such as Florence Welsh, Lana del Rey and Jay-Z with classic roaring 20's jazz and traditional Hollywood score is flawless. You should expect nothing less from good old Baz, and thankfully he delivers huge in this one.

The man who Stole the Show!

Joel Edgerton ran away with this movie, and never looked back. After making an appearance in Star Wars Episode II as a young Uncle Owen, Edgerton has exploded on the American film scene with reckless abandon and we couldn't be more thrilled. He's since appeared in such incredible films as Zero Dark Thirty and Warrior. However, it is in Gatsby that he really shines. Words will fail me here folks, so please just take my word for it, see for yourselves and you'll know I was right.

Final Thoughts and Ratings

Overall, this movie was almost perfect. Acting, direction, cinematography, music, everything was spot on. So why waste time? I give The Great Gatsby a 9/10 on the "P.B.S." and a definitive Buy. In fact I went out and added this one to my collection the very day it released. Folks do not hesitate on this one, I may be a bit biased as I love Baz' work, but I simply don't think so. Credit where credit is due, and this one deserves a ton of credit.

Overview

This was a very interesting film to say the least. It tells the supposed true story of three body builders in Miami who set out to rip off a very wealthy client and take him for all he has. The dynamic trio is portrayed by the three men listed and pictured above, and overall the movie was not half bad.

This film is billed as a comedy and for the first 3/4 of the movie it delivers just that. I mean really, three massive men struggling to piece together this elaborate con, all set in the most comedic era in U.S. history, the early 90's. With a cast that was perfectly selected and including names such as Tony Shalhoub, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson and Ken Jeong, you have to expect laughs. Add in a great performance from the ringer Ed Harris and a surprisingly good and hilarious effort from Bar Paly and we have a well thought out cast, that truly delivers.

The film is also brilliantly shot. With great cut-scenes and a very unique stylized look and feel, the director really helps you feel the tempo in your core as you watch this "Roid-rage" packed gem. However, with all that said this film does have a huge negative. As I mentioned above, the first 3/4 of the movie is absolutely hilarious and incredibly entertaining, but then the film takes a pretty dark turn.

Now, I'm certainly no prude when it comes to dark turns, however to me at this point the film and it's story leave the realm of comedy and enter a different tone all together. However, the tone of the film does not change with it. Instead, the writers keep up the comedic feel and it makes the film feel inappropriate, and what was once fun and easy to watch makes you feel a bit awkward and bad for watching it.

The Man Who Stole the Show...Take Two!

Do not adjust your computer screens folks, you are seeing this correctly, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stole this film right from under everyone! He was sensational from start to finish. He was hilarious, loveable and just non-stop entertaining. This is hands down his greatest role and his best work to date. Now don't get me wrong, on the rarest of occasions, D.J. lands a role that is well-suited to his limited talents and is fun to watch. Take the last two Fast and Furious installments for example. However, in Pain & Gain he is truly brilliant and shows a true on screen talent that we had yet to see.

The All-Important Ratings

Well let's just jump right in with the final ratings for this film. I give it a 7/10 on the "P.B.S." and a definite Watch. The great news for you all is that this title hit Redbox on the same day it released on DVD/Bluray, so no need to shell out the $6 for on demand, just a cool $1.27 and this diamond in the rough can be yours for the night.

Well, that about wraps us up on this one. Check out these titles and be sure to let us know your thoughts, did we nail our reviews? Did we get it totally wrong? We are dying to hear from you, our loyal and devoted fans!

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